Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-27
SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM.
what Socialism Is and What 1t Pro
poses to DO-Its Theories Discussed
INV Reu- Waahin ofnn GsIaddan.

what Socialism Is and what 1t Pro
poses to Do-Its Theories Discussed
by Rev. Washington GLADDEN..
Rev. Washington GLADDEN. discussed the
subject Scientific Socialism" yesterday af-
ternoon before the divinity students and
others in the Maqruand chapel The subject
is live one among the students, and the
speaker was heard with close attention. He
spoke in brief as follows: If it be true that
the owners of machinery get the greater
share of the production, why does not the
government organize itself into co operative
commonwealth and own it. This is the
question of socialism. 1t would control the
distribution and the production of wealth.
The full scheme demands thorough revolu-
ton; it would do away with private property
and private enterpris'. 1t must be distin-
guished from communism which is hardly
living issue. Socialism, startling it is,
aiming at the complete control by the State
over land and industry, Is burning ques-
ton. Germany and England show great
social programme. The government of the
United States and of the States judged by
laisser faire is eminently socialistic. The
postoffice and lighthouse, public roads, public
libraries and public schools are all of the
socialstic regime. The individualist is
something of socialist. All believe that the
State can and ought to do something for the
public welfare. 1.-THE welfare of the people
is the supreme law"
The criticism by socialists upon the in
dustTial regime is worthy of attention. They
are right when they say that competition
does not always operate bene6cently, and
they can show that the effects of the COMPETE
tive system upon moral character are detri-
mental Yet we may venture to decline the
organization of society upon socialistic
basis.
The theory of socialism that labor is the
only source of wealth is not true, for the in
telligence of the organizer is the more eff.
Gent 1t is the mind in work for which we
pay the most.
The theory that machinery is accumulated
labor will not stand. The machine is the
embodiment of the inventors mind. Mind
laws tribute on the wealth which it produces.
Social economies entirely ignore the function
of mind in production, and the civilization
which puts Drawn above brain, is not civil
cation but barbarism.
The practical difficulties are inseparable.
The State under that system would have to
furnish work for all and regulate wages for
all; it must determine the normal day and
| the normal days work. This cannot be re-
duced to tabular statement. The State
must predict the wants of millions of people
| and supply them. If the needs of men can
be effectually supplied through scientific State
| provision, then one of the strongest argu-
| ments against socialism has lost its force
The socialist makes a strong argument from
| the waste of the competitive regime. Co
operation awakens cooperative men; SO So
cialism must wait until the social man is
solved, for a system cannot be forced upon
| society until society is ready for it.
| The unselfsh element in human
| nature will at some time be
| developed, but when the social
man arrives it is by no means clear that he
will be socialist. Personality has its own
domain and will not be intruded upon, but
| it's domain is broader than socialism has
staked out for it. The strong ought to bear
the infrmities of the weak. The problem is
to help them enough, but not too much.
Socialism undertakes to furnish work for
all; it abolishes foresight; it depreciates the
ethical elements of men; it cares for the uni
versal comfort rather than for high charac-
ter. The law of Christ Is not f'Thou shalt love
thy neighbor for thyself, but "Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as myself" DR.. GLADDEN.
will give the last lecture of the course on FRI
day afternoon at o'clock. The subject will
be "Christian Socialism